Toe clip for ski binding



L. D. GIBSON TOE CLIP FOR sm BIRDING Filed July 9, 192a Nov. 19, 1929.

Patented Nov. 19, 1929 "rfzaaeza 'Lours' n; GIBSON, OF ORWAY, MAINE, ASSIGNOR 1' 0 THE W. F; 'rUBBs COMPANY, or

. NORWAY, MAINE, A-ooRPoRATIoN 0F MAINE- TOE omr ron SKI BI-NDING:

Applicationfiled, July 9, 1928. Serial No. 291,467.

I Myiinventionjrelateslto toe clips for ski binding, and relates particularlyto toe clips of thetype supported by'the laterally disposed portions of-ski toe irons adapted for the purpose of engaging theboot sole of the user ofthe ski. I

In-isecuring the .bootof the .user ofa ski ito the ski, many and various expedients have been resorted to, such asthe use ofstraps alone, or straps 1n comblnatlon with toe iron "side plates, which in turn are oftenprovided "with toe clipssupported thereby, which pro- "ject inwardly from theupstanding toe iron side plates and have a; portion adapted for' engagementwith the upper surface of the boot sole, tomaintain the boot sole in close fitting engagement with theupper surface of the ski, said sole being interposed between the toe clips and such upper surface.

ffvidean improved ski binding comprising toe ,iron side plates adapted to receive toe cl ps An objectof my invention, therefore, is to provide an improved toe clip for sk blndlngs.

Another object of myinvention is to provide an improved toe clip for, ski bindings ap- -plicable1to the side platesof toeirons therefor. V l' Another object of invention is .to 'pro- -vide toe clips of the above character which are 5 readily removable and" replaceable by other toe clips of the sameo'r similar kind and of the same or difiering size, whereby variations in thicknessesof boot soles may be accommodated, at the same time securing a close-fitting engagement with the upper suriace ofthe boot sole. p

Another object of my inventionis to proand to hold the received toe clips rigidly in any one of a numberof different positions onthe side plate.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved ski bindin'g comprising toe irons with side plates employng toe clips adapted to be variously positioned onthe side plates to provide forbootwagons offlifferent widths, 1 i i Another object of my. invention-is ito Yprovide an improved sk1 bmdmgcomprising toe irons with side plates employing-the clips adapted to be variously positioned on the side plates to provide; for boot toeffsoles oii different widthsand thicknesses. V

Another ob ect of my invention is to pro- -vide an improved ski binding comprisingtoe rons w th side plates employing? toe clips feg CE'T f vide'a skibinding comprising toe iron. side plates and toe clips supported thereby adaptedto be rotated to adjust the clip for diflerent thicknesses of boot soles- Other objects of my invention and the tothe accompanyingdescription of an em.-

hodiment of my nvention, susceptible of variation inform, and which, a preferred form, 1s illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichi Q V I Fig. 1 illustrates in side elevation, a fragment of a, ski comprising toe irons'having side plates, andfragments of a ski harness shown as attached thereto, together with a side elevational viewofa toe clip secured side plates. H V,

Fig. 2 is a plan view-of the apparatus of in a given 'adjustedj position in one ofthe Fig. 1, except that a showing of the harness.

is omitted.

Fig. 3 is a sideelevationalview of :a side plate with a toe clip supported *thereby, viewed from the opposite or inner side of the side plate from that viewable in Fig. 1.

. vent on tself will be; apparent by reference Fig. 4 is a plan view of a single toeiron,

a pair of complementaryones of which are lermployed with each ski as illustrated in 1g. 2.

Figs. 5 and6 are viewstaken post.

23 the slot, by the interengagement of the sertions each relatively at right angles one to the mentary toe irons having superposed base portions projected 1nto the slot 2 from opposite sides and wedged tightly in position within the slot-by the oppositely driven wedges 26 and 27 andprevented from move ment from a given adjusted position within rations, 22 along an edge 24 of eaohtoe iron 7 'taryiserrations byprongs into fat foration "The hook isretracted to effect a "Each "of "the toe rons in their hea'd port ions, '7. and '8 respectively. for a. pair of harness :Serial No- 294,796,

'ously rovided.

base, ma-k'ng engagement with complemenof aplate 25' rigidly secured "3 and terminate exteriorly of the slot 2m upturned flanges 'ofsaid irons 5 and 6' respectively these being provided with toe strap receiving slots 16 1 5, and'wit-h buttons straps 'such'as 9, terminating ineyelet hooks 10 secured tothe ends of the s'tr'a'psby rivets 11. The eyeletrhooks are provided with an elongated formed; perforation 12' having a circular enlarged portion 13 and an inner slot portion 14, the buttons7 and'8, as, the case may be, adapted to enter; the enlargedpor- "tion' the heads of the buttons being projected entirely through the eyelet hook permovement of the hook longitudinally to draw the neck portion ofthe button intothe slot."

I The foregoing are parts of an improved ski binding forming'the subject matter of-a separate "companion application file'd by me, therefore not specifically claimed herein.

The side irons 5 and'dare also perforated at 18 and 19 there'being preferably two of such perforations for each side plate although one, several, or more might be advantage- The perforations'l'dan'd 19 may be variously formed but 1' preferably form them generally as illustrated so as to provide one orinorejpositions"within the 'slot's'wher'ein key portions 31 of atoe clip sucha's2l maybe non-rotatablysecured.

- he toe clip embodying my-invention as illustrated FigsL5 and '6, is inthe form of a headed screw 'havingg'a toe clip portion 21 forming the head of the screw, and a stem 30 threaded at 32 to. receive asecuringn'ut 33, the'r'e being alsoa key portion 31 interv the wood of the ski 1 at a rearend'wall ofthe'slot 2.

' therebetween or if "and the boot is pressed filed July 23, 1928, and is,

-of the boot toe and rear movement of the mediate the stem and to clip head, portion. The stem 30 is preferably of generally circular cross-sectional form, whereas .the

key portion is preferably non-circular and preferably poly onal, being illustrated as quadrilateral and more specifically square in 7 transverse section.

Each of the slots 18 and 19 are preferably formation, except for the interconnecting portions,and adapted to receive thekey por 'tion 31 of the cli-pelernent, in snug fitting relation so that relative rotation of the'headclip 21iisefiectually prevented by the noncircular form of the engaging surface of the key portion 31 of the clip element and of the square aperture, such as 34,

The key and aperture waHsarepreferamy so formed as to permitthe clip element to be held in keyed position thereinin-either of two oppositely disposed rotati've positions so as to position the surfacef40, of the clip-21 downward toward the ski 1 to contact with the.uppersurface of the boot soleinterposed desired, to position the surface 39 lowermost, for the same punpose, but in order to accommodate a thicker boot sole. 'In any case,- the clip element positioned with the key portionprojected-through the selected non-circular aperture ofi either. of

the slots complementarily dispo'sed'jthereim, fasillustrated in Fig. 2- at 21, and -4l, respectivel=y. The side platesa re-capableof adjusting in-' wardlyor outwardly by plates in the desired lateral 'positiens and then drivingthe wedges intoplace. V

Theuser. then mayinsert the sole of his boot between the side plates, which incidentally are preferably inclined tofthe longi-. tudinal axis of the ski, converging forwardly, forward tov itsgli-hiiting position as determinedby'the oonvergence of the sideplates. The upper surface of the sole is tightly pressed againstthelower surface, such as 39 harness comprising portion. ofthe, boot,

respectively. H V v v The strap9 tends to press'the=b0ot jforward.: The con-verging side ,platesprevent forward forward part of the "boot sole toe portion, and, the lowermost surface 39or 40', as the case may be, of the top'clip 18 or 19., one clip for-'eaeh 'si de plate 21 b of the clip 21, and the-r I thestraps 17 andQ nay 7 .then be tightened about the; upper portion placing the side prevents upward movementoftheisole'sothatii most relative to itsp'roxir'ni'ty to the surface- -ably adapted for positioning relatively of the'skil, a very. nice graduated adjustment of toe clip to boot sole of any ordinary dimensions may be effected. 1 h a he head 21 may be variously formed, but to carry out certain objects of my invention, I preferably provide it with lateral surfaces varying in distance from the axis of the axially aligned stem and key portions. Thus in Figs. 5 and 6, the head clip portion comprises a pair of end surfaces 37 and 38 and 1. In a ski binding, in combination with the ski, of a pair of complementary toe irons therefor adapted to be secured thereto, each of said toe irons comprising lateral boot toe clip elements adapted to be rigidly secured to said side plate portions, one to each, each toe clip comprising a stem and head supported thereby, said head providing a boot toe sole cap, said stem adapted for insertion through an aperturein its associated side plate, means to secure the clip element to the plate in either a of two alternate rotative positions relative thereto, said clip comprising a pair of lateral surface portions varying in distance radially from the stem axis, each surface interchangeably adapted for positioning relativelynearest the ski. l

2. In a ski binding, in combination with the ski, of a pair of complementary toe irons therefor adapted to be secured thereto, each of said toe irons comprising lateral boot toe confining side plate portions, a pair of toe clip elements adapted to be rigidly secured to said side plate portions, one to each, each toe clip comprising a stem and head supported thereby, said head providing a boot toe sole cap, said stem adapted for insertion through an aperture in its associated side plate, means to secure the clip element to the plate in either of two alternate rot-ative positions relative thereto, said clip comprising a pair of lateral surface portions varying in distance radially from the stem axis, each surface interchangenearest the ski, and key means adapted to interchangeably lock the clip to either of the two said alternate rotative positions.

of said toe irons comprisinglateral boot toe confining side plate portions, a pair of toe clip elements adapted tobe rigidly secured to said side plate portions, one toveach, each toe clip comprising a' stem and head sup-;

ported thereby, saidhead providing-a boot toe sole cap, said stein adapted for insertion throu h an] a erture in its associated side 2: 1 plate, means to-se'cure tne clip element to the plate in either of two alternate'rotative posi-- .tions relative thereto, said clip comprising a] pair of lateral surface portions varying in distance radiallyfrom the stem Qaxis, each surface interchangeably adapted for ;posi-' tioning relativelynearest the ski, and key means adapted to interchangeably lock the clip to either of the two said alternate rotative'positions, said-key means comprising cooperative clip element and side plate surfaces non-circular in form, disposed inengagement to preventrelative rotation of the clip element to" the side plate.

4:. In aski binding, in combination withthe ski, of a pair of complementary-toe irons therefor adapted tobe secured thereto, each ofsaid toe irons coinprisinglateral boottoe confining sideplate'portions, apair of toe clip elements adapted to be rigidlysecured to confining side plate portions, a pair of toe] said side plate portionsfone to each, each toe clipcomprising a stem and head supported cap, said stein adapted for insertion through an aperture in its associated s de plate,.means to secure the clip-element to the plate in either of two alternate rotative positions relative thereto, said means comprising a portion;

thereby, said head providing a boot toe-sole of a stemofnon-circular form" in transverse secti'o'mand portions of the side plate atthe aperture engageable with .the non-circular portion of the stem, said clip comprising a pair oflateral surface portions varying in v distanceradially from the stem axis, each surface interchangeably adapted for positioning relatively nearest theski.

g 5. In a ski bindinggin combinatiomwith the ski, of a pair of complementary toe irons:

therefor adapted to be secured'ther'eto, each of said'toe rons comprising lateral hoot toe confining side plate portions, a pairofitoe clip elementsadapted to be rigidly secured to said side plate portions, one to'each, eachtoe clip comprising a stem and head supported thereby, said head providing a boot toe 'soler cap, each of said plates havingnon-circular apertures.therethrough, said; stem adapted for insertion through theaperture in its asso-- clip elements adapted to be rigidly secured i h in combination with V ,the ski, of a pair of complementary toe irons 3. In a ski binding, in combination with the "to" said side plate portions, one to each, each toe clip comprising a stem and head supported thereby, said head providinga boot toe sole cap, each said side plate comprising a pluralityof apertures disposedatv different levels relative to the surface of the ski, said stem adapted for interchangeable, insertion through either of said apertures.

7 In a ski binding, in combination With the :ski, of'a pair of complementary toe irons therefor adapted to be secured thereto, each of said toe ironscomprising lateral boot toe confining side plateportions, a pair of'toe clip elements adapted to the rigidlysecured to said side plate portions, one to each, each toe clip comprising a stem and head sup ported thereby, said head'providing a boot toe sole cap, each said side plate comprising a plurality of apertures disposed at different levels relative to the surface ofthe skii, said stem adapted for interchangeable insertion "said stem being threaded on its end remote "most surface, the bootsole of a boot secured through either of said apertures,- means to secure the clip element to the plate With its stem through either of said apertures in either oft-W0 alternate relat ve posi-tlons, sald clip comprlsing a pairof lateral surface portions Varying in distance radially from the stem axis, each surface interchangeably adapted for posltioning relatlvely nearest the positioning it in either of the two alternate rotative positions in thechosen aperture.

-8.-A toe clip for ski binding toe irons,

comprising a stem 7 adapted for insertion through an aperture of one of the side plates of'the irons, a head integrally secured thereto,

from the head, and a nut for application to the threaded portion of the stem to tightly secure the head tothe side-plate at the inner 'ski by terchangeable insertion through any of said aperture portions.

In testnnony whereof I hereunto aflixmy signature this 8th day of J une, 1928.

LOUIS '1). caisson;- as

acs

surface thereof, so as to engage, by its lowerto the "ski.

9. In a ski bind ng,

1 the ski, of a pair of complementary toe irons tures disposed atdifierent levels relative tothe surface of the ski, said stemadapted for confining sideplate 'portions,;a pair of toe clip elements adapted to be rigid1y secured to-said side plate'portiona one to ea'cln e'ach toe clip including a stem, said stem supporting at its lnner end, a boot toe sole cap,e'ach said side plate comprising a plurality of aperinterchangeagle insertion through either of :said apertures;

10. In a 'skl'bindrng, in combrna'tronwith the skl, of a pair of complementary toe irons therefor adapted to be secured theret'0, each of said toe irons comprising lateral .boot toe confining-side plate portions, a pair of toe clip elements adapted to be rigidly'sec'uredtoin combination with j 'therefor adapted-to besecu'r'ed thereto, each ofsaidtoe irons comprising lateral-boot toe said side plate portions, one to'each, each toe a clip including a stem, said stem supporting at its inner end, a boot toe sole cap, each ile 

